Electric motor for drape operating mechanism



July 2, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 6,

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2% zyalvzeys MMWMW MMMMMMMMMM wWMMfiMHMWMWMWMHMMMMHWHMMMIW EMHHWMWwWfi QM w sQ M w L July 2, 1957 H. J. CANTIN 2,798,194

ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR DRAPE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed May 6, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ea/weigh July 2, 1957 H. J; CANTIN ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR DRAPE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed May 6, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nmv kflarzafrztiz @M MM ELECTRIC MQTGR FOR DRAPE OPERATING MEfif-IANEM Harland .l. Cantin, Wilmette, llli. Application May 6, 1954, Serial No. assess in (Iiaims. (or. sta zas This invention relates to electrical apparatus and more particularly, to electrical apparatus for actuating drapes or curtains, and the like.

Various types of curtain and drapery operating mechanisms have been heretofore known in the art. However, such mechanisms as have been heretofore known have had inherent disadvantages such as, for example, being difficult to install or operate; requiring special types of traverse rods, operating cords, and the like; or being inefficient and unreliable in operation. It is a primary object of my invention to afford novel actuating mechanism for operating curtains, draperies, and the like, which overcomes such disadvantages.

A further object of my invention is to afford novel electrical apparatus for opening and closing draperies, and the like, which may be used with any type or size of traverse rods.

Another object of my invention is to afford apparatus of the aforementioned type which may quickly and easily be installed as a part of present drapery installations.

Another object of my invention is to afford novel apparatus of the aforementioned type which is so constructed, and operates in such a manner, that the operating cord of the curtain or drapery being actuated is subjected to a minimum of strain and wear.

An ancillary object is to alford apparatus of the aforementioned type'which may be used effectively with the relatively thin, flexible cords of the type normally presently used with manually adjusted draperies and the like.

Another object of my invention is to afford a novel apparatus of the aforementioned type which automatically reverses the drive mechanism for the apparatus in a novel and expeditious manner at the end of the travel of the draperies both in closed and open position.

A further object of my invention is to afford a novel operating apparatus of the aforementioned type which automatically stops the driving motor in a novel manner at the end limit of travel of the draperies in both closed and open position.

Yet another object of my invention is to afford novel apparatus of the aforementioned type which embodies novel takeup means for maintaining proper tension on the operating cord of the drapery mechanism.

ther and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and What I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the inventions embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of electrical apparatus embodying the principles of my invention, showing the tats atn apparatus in operative position for opening and closing a pair of drapes;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a rear detail elevational view showing certain portions of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. .9 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 99 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line lit-10 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a detail rear elevational view of a portion of the traverse rod mechanism shown in Fig. l; and

Fig. 12 is a schematic Wiring diagram of my novel apparatus.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, electrical apparatus 2% is shown in the drawings connected to a traverse rod mechanism 22 for opening and closing draperies supported by the traverse rod mechanism. The traverse rod mechanism 22 is typical of such mechanisms and forms no part of my invention except insofar as it forms a part of my novel combination.

My novel electrical apparatus 20 comprises in general, Figs. 1, 3 and 5, a mounting box B, a motor M mounted in the box B; supporting mechanism S mounted in the box B for supporting the motor M; and a master switch MS, a limit switch LS, and a reversing switch RS, all mounted in the box B for controlling the operation of the motor M.

The mounting box B is substantially rectangular in shape having a bottom wall 23, two end walls 24 and 25, and two side walls 26 and 27, Figs. 1, 3 and 5. A cover 29 is preferably mounted on the walls 24, 25, 26, and 27, Fig. 5, when the apparatus 20 is in use.

The motor M is preferably a series wound, reversible, universal motor having a reduction gear unit 31 mounted on the forward end portion thereof. A pulley 32 is mounted on a shaft 34 projecting from the reduction gear unit 31 and is driven by the motor M during the operation of the latter. A suitable locking nut 36 is mounted on the forward end portion of the shaft 34 to retain the pulley 32 in position on the shaft 3 during rotation of the shaft 34 in either direction. Preferably, the groove of the pulley 32 is lined with rubber 37, Fig. 6, to thereby afford a friction rubber drive which is particularly effective in driving cords, and the like.

Two mounting rods 41 and 42, Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5, extend between the side walls 25 and 2'7 of the mounting box B in substantially the longitudinal center thereof. The opposite end portions of the mounting rods 41 and 42 are secured to the side walls 26 and 27 of the moun ing box B by suitable supporting brackets 44 and 45, respectively, releasably secured in clamping engagement with the rods 41 and 42 by screws 46, Figs. 3 and 7. The mounting rods 41 and 42 extend upwardly between the motor M and the reduction gear casing 31 and are disposed in complementary shaped grooves 41a and 42a formed in the reduction gear housing 31, Fig. 4, to thereby firmly mount the motor M and the reduction gear housing 31 against rotation in the housing B.

Two compression coil springs 48 and 49 are mounted on the mounting rods 41 and 42, respectively, between, the

mounting bracket 44 and the top of the motor M and urge the motor M downwardly on the mounting rods 41 and 42 for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter.

The reversing switch RS and the limit switch LSare mounted in side-by-side relation to each other, on. the end wall 25 of the mounting box B forwardly of the pulley 32, Figs. 3 and 5, and each embodies a switch operating arm 53 and 54,- respectively,-projectinginwardly toward the motor M. An actuating member 51 is mounted on the actuating members 53 and 54 and projects therefrom toward the motor M. Theactuating member 51 is preferably made of an electricalinsulating material such as, for example, Lucite,-or the like, and isireleasably secured to the actuating members 53 and 54 by suitable means such as screws 56. A slot 51a, opening toward the motor M is formed in the actuating member 51. for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently.

The master switch MS, in the-preferred embodiment of my invention, is shown in the drawings mounted-on the end wall 25 of the mounting box B below the limit switch LS and the reversing switch RS and includes an actuating member 57. With this construction, I afford a compact apparatus which may be readily installed in position to be concealed by the draperies which it actuates. However, if desired, the master switch MS may be mounted in an entirely ditferent part of the room than that in which the mounting box B is used. Thus, for example, if desired, the master switch MS could be mounted on a wall where, for example, light switches and the like are mounted.

The rod 22a of the traverse rod mechanism is mounted on a suitable supporting member such as the wall W, Figs. 1 and 2, by mounting brackets 62a, 62b and 620.

The operating cord 61 of the traverse rod unit 22 is of the closed loop type with the free end portions 61a and 61b thereof connected to a drapery hanger 63, slidably mounted in the traverse rod 22a, Figs. 8 and 9. The cord 61 is threaded through the traverse rod 22a in the usual manner, Figs. 1 and 8, being threaded around a pulley 65 in one end of the rod 220, and extending from the pulley 65 longitudinally through the traverse rod 22 in an upper pass 61U and a lower pass 61L. The other ends of the upper and lower passes 61U and 61L are threaded over pulleys 66 and 67, respectively, and extend downwardly therefrom around the pulley 32 mounted on the motor M, Figs. 1 and 6. The length of the cord 61 may be adjusted by properly positioning the knots formed in the end portions 61a and 61b, and in mounting my novel electrical apparatus 29 on such a cord, the cord 61 is adjusted so that the motor M is held by the cord 61 in raised position against the urging of the springs 48 and 49 so that the springs 43 and 49 in urging the motor M downwardly in the box B apply tension to. the cord 61.

As is best seen in Figs. 1, and 6, the downwardly extending portion of the lower pass 61L of the cord 61 extends through the slot 51a in the actuating member 51 mounted on the reversing switch RS and the limit switch LS. Thus it will be seen that actuation of the motor M in one direction is effective through the pulley 32 to cause the cord 61 to travel on the pulleys 65, 66 and 67 in such direction that the upper pass 61U moves to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 while the lower pass 61L moves to the right. The reverse actuation of the motor M, will cause the cord 61 to likewise move in the reverse direction, that is, will cause the upper pass 61U to move to the right and the lower pass 61L to move to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1.

As is well known in the art, either a single drape may be mounted on the traverse rod mechanism 22 for movement entirely across the length of the rod'22a, or two drapes maybe mounted at opposite end portions of the rod 22a for actuation toward and away from each other. In the drawings I have shown a traverse rod constructed to support two drapes, not shown, for movement toward and away from each other. '3 With this construction, one of the drapes may be mounted at the right end of the rod 22, as viewed in Fig. 1, with the leading or inner edge of the drape, adjacent the top thereof, supported by a hook 63b hooked into an eye 63a formed in the forward end portion of the hanger 63. The other portions of the drape trailing the leading edge portion thereof, maybe supported by hooks 71a hooked into hangers 71, Figs. 1 and 10, slidably mounted in the traverse rod 22a outwardly of the hanger 63, and upon actuation of the cord 61 in such a manner that the lower pass 61L moves from the position shown in Fig. 1 toward the left as shown in Fig. 1, the hanger 63 is moved by the lower pass 61L toward the left to thereby pull the drape connected thereto to the left, the hangers 71 sliding to the left with the trailing portions of the drape.

At the other end of the traverse rod 22 another hanger 73, similar in construction to the hanger 63, is mounted for sliding movement along the rod 22. This latter hanger 73 is connected to the upper pass 61U of the cord 61 as is best shown in Figs. 1 and 11. This connection of the hanger 73 to the upper pass 61U may be made in any suitable manner but I prefer to extend a loop of the upper pass 61U outwardly through a slot 22b, Fig. 11, in the inner face of the traverse rod 22 and extend this loop of the upper pass 61U under a hook shaped member 75 on the rear face of the bracket 73 to thereby secure the upper pass 61U to the hanger 73. Additional hangers 71 are mounted in the rod 22a outwardly of the hanger 73 to support the main body of the drape connected to the hanger 73.

Thus it will be seen that as the passes 61Uand 61L are reciprocated in the traverse rod back and forth relative to each other, the hangers 63 and 73 and, therefore, the draperies attached thereto are moved inwardly and outwardly toward and away from each other.

It will be remembered that when my novel electrical apparatus 20 is disposed in operative position, the cord 61 is trained around the pulley 32 on the motor M, and the downwardly extending portion of the lower pass 61L extends through the slot 51a in the actuating member 51. As maybe seen in Fig. 5, the slot 51a is of considerably greater cross-section than the cord 61 so that the cord 61 may pass freely therethrough.

However, two steel buttons 77 and 78, Fig. lfare mounted on the upper pass 61U and the lower pass 61L, respectively, whichare of such size that they will readily traverse the traverse rod 22a and pass over the pulleys 65, 66, and 67, but will not pass through the slot 51a in the actuating member 51. The buttons 77 and 78 are preferably in the form of a strip of metal, such as steel, wrapped around the cord 61 and crimped or squeezed into tight engagement therewith, and are disposed on the cord 61 in such position that the button 78 engages the actuating member 51 and moves the latter downwardly into the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 3, when the draperies mounted on the hangers 63 and 73 are disposed in a fully open position, and the button 77 engages the actuating member 51 and is effective to move it upwardly intothe position shown in broken lines in Fig. 3, when the draperies mounted on the hangers 63 and 73 are disposed in fully closed position.

Such movement of the actuating member 51 is effective to similarly pivot the switch operating arms 53 and 54 towhich it is connected, Figs. 3 and 5, and such movements of the arms 53 and 54 are efiective to actuate the reversing switch RS and the limit switch LS. in such a manner as to stopthe operation of the motor M and reverse the connections thereto at each end of the travel of the hangers 63 and 73, as will h e-discussed ingreater detail presently.

The master switch MS and the limit switch LS are preferably each three-way switches, and the reversing switch RS is preferably a four-way switch. The specific construction of these switches is unimportant so far as results are concerned but the types of these switches are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 12.

In the construction of my novel electrical apparatus 20 as shown in Fig. 12, one power lead 81 is connected to a contact 83 of the master switch MS. The other two contacts 84 and S5 of the master switch MS are connected by wires 87 and S0 to contacts 90 and 91 of the limit switch LS, respectively. The third contact 93 of the limit switch LS is connected by a wire 94- to one end of the field winding F of the motor M. The other end of the field winding F is connected by a wire 95 to one contact 96 of the reversing switch RS. The reversing switch RS has three other contacts 97, 98 and 99. The contact 97 of the reversing switch RS is connected by a wire 101 to one end of the armature A. The other end of the armature A is connected by a wire 102 to the contact 98 of the reversing switch RS. The fourth contact 99 of the reversing switch RS is connected by a Wire 1104 to one end of the field winding F. The other end of the field winding F is connected to the other power lead 106.

The master switch MS and the limit switch LS embody switch arms 103 and 109, respectively. The switch arm 108 of the master switch MS is connected at one end to the contact 83 and the other end thereof is movable between the contacts 84 and 05, as shown in broken and solid lines in Fig. 12. Similarly, the switch arm 109 of the limit switch LS is connected at one end to the contact 93 and the other end of the arm 109 is movable between the contacts 90 and 91 as shown in broken and solid lines in Fig. 12. The arms 108 and 109 of the master switch MS and the limit switch LS are, of course, connected to the actuating members 57 and 54, respectively, and are movable thereby into the aforementioned ditferent operative positions.

The reversing switch RS embodies two switch arms 112 and 113. The switch arm 112 being connected at one end to the contact 96 and the other end of the switch arm 112 being movable between the contacts 97 and 98 as shown in broken and solid lines in Figs. 12 and 12A. The other switch arm 113 of the reversing switch RS is connected at one end to the contact 99 and is movable at the other end between the contacts 97 and 98 as shown in solid and broken lines in Figs. 12 and 12A. The switch arms 112 and 113 are, of course, connected to the actuating member 53 of the reversing switch RS, and are movable thereby into the aforementioned two operative positions.

In Fig. 12 the parts of my novel electrical apparatus are shown in the position that they occupy when connected together to move the hangers 63 and 73 inwardly toward each other from the position shown in Fig. 1. For this operation, it will be seen that the switch arm 108 of the master switch MS is connected between the contacts 83 and 85; the switch arm 109 of the limit switch LS is connected between the contacts 91 and 93; the switch arm 112 of the reversing switch RS is connected between the contacts 90 and 98; and the switch arm 113 of the reversing switch RS is connected between the contacts 97 and 99.

With this connection it will be seen that the electrical circuit extends from the power source through the lead wire 81, the contact 03, the switch arm the contact 85, the wire 00, the contact 91, the switch arm 109, the contact 93, the wire 94, the field winding F, the wire 95, the contact 96, the switch arm 112, the contact 98, the wire 102, the armature A, the wire 101, the contact 97, the switch arm 113, the contact 99, the Wire 104, the field winding F, and through the other lead wire 106 back to the source of supply.

If at any time during such operation of my novel electrical apparatus it is desired to stop the operation of the motor M and, therefore, the travel of the drapes connected thereto, this may be readily accomplished by manually flicking the actuating member 57 of the master switch MS to the position efiective to disengage the switch arm 108 from the contact 85. This, normally, will move the switch arm 108 into engagement with the contact 04. However, it will be seen that the switch arm 109 of the limit switch LS is, at this time, out of engagement with the contact 90, and therefore, the circuit between the positive and negative sides of the power source is thus open at the contact 90.

If, on the other hand, the master switch MS is left in the operative position shown in Fig. 12, the electrical apparatus 20 will continue to operate until the drapes carried by the hangers 63 and 73 approach the innermost limits of their travel. When this occurs, the button 77 on the upper pass 01U will engage the actuating member 51 and move the latter upwardly from the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 3 to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 3, to thereby throw the switch arms 109, 112 and 113 from the positions shown in solid lines in Fig. 12 to the positions shown in broken lines in Fig. 12. When this occurs, the circuit is broken between the positive and negative sides of the power source because the arm 108 of the master switch MS remains in engagement with the contacts 83 and 85, but the arm 109 of the limit switch LS has moved out of engagement with the contact 91 to thereby break the circuit through the motor M. In addition, not only has the operation of the motor M been stopped by such actuation of the actuating member 51, but the reversing switch RS has been actuated in such a manner that the connections to the armature A have been reversed so that when the master switch MS is next actuated the current flow through the armature A is reversed to thereby reversely operate the motor M to thereby turn the pulley 32 in a reverse direction and eiiect opening or outward. movement of the hangers 63 and 73 relative to each. other.

In this latter circuit, efiective to cause drapery open ing actuation of the motor M, the switch arms 108, 109, 112 and 113 are disposed in the positions shown in broken lines in Fig. 12. With this connection it will be seen that the circuit extends from the power source through the lead wire 81, the contact 83, the switch arm 108, the contact 84, the wire 87, the contact 90, the switch arm 109, the contact 93, the wire 94, the field winding F, the wire 95, the contact 95, the switch arm 112, the contact 97, the wire 101, the armature A, the wire 102, the contact 98, the switch arm 113, the contact 99, the wire 104, the field winding F, and back to the power source through the lead wire 106. Thus it will be seen that the current flow has been reversed through the armature A and this is eifective to reverse the rotation of the drive shaft of the motor M.

During this operation of my novel apparatus, when the hangers 63 and 73 are moved away from each other into their outermost position, as shown in Fig. 1, the button 78 on the cord 61 engages the actuating member 51 and is effective to move the actuating member from the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 3 into the solid line position shown in Fig. 3 to thereby open the limit switch LS and efiect stopping of the motor M.

The movement of the actuating member 51 by the button 78 from the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 3 to the position shown in solid lines therein is, therefore, efifective to break the circuit to the motor through actuation of the limit switch LS into the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 12, and, at the same time, is efiective to move the switch arms 112 and 113 of the reversing switch RS from the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 12 to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 12, to thereby reverse the connections to the armature A of the motor M and so condition the circuit that, upon the next actuation of the master switch MS, the motor M is again energized in such a manner as to rotate the pulley 32 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6

and thereby eifect drapery-closing actuation of the cord 61.

The mounting of the motor M, and the connection of the cord 61 thereto, is such that any slight stretching of the cord 61 in service is automatically compensated for by the action of the springs 48 and 49. In the event that the cord 61 should stretch sutficiently so as to cause undesirable slippage of the pulley 32 thereon, this condition may be readily remedied with my device by repositioning either the knot 61a or 61b so as to again properly tension the cord 61, this adjustment automatically raising the motor M the desired amount on the rods 41 and 42.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have afforded a novel electrical apparatus for actuating curtains, draperies, and the like, which is eflicient and reliable in operation, and may be quickly and easily installed either on new drapery installations or as a part of old drapery installations.

Also it will be seen that I have afforded a novel electrical apparatus which is compact in size, and may be readily and economically manufactured commercially, and which if desired, may be readily mounted in concealed position in a drapery or curtain installation.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A curtain opening and closing mechanism comprising driving means including a cord, a pulley operatively engaged with said cord for driving the latter, a motor operatively connected to said pulley for rotating the latter, and switching means operatively connected to said motor for controlling the operation of the latter, said switching means including a switch-actuating member having a passageway in which said cord travels when the latter is being driven by said pulley, and means on said cord engageable with said switch-actuating member for moving the latter.

2. A curtain opening and closing mechanism comprising driving means including a cord, a pulley operatively engaged with said cord for driving the latter, a motor operatively connected to said pulley for rotating the latter, and switching means operatively connected to said motor for controlling the operation of the latter, said switching means including a limit switch and a reversing switch connected in series with each other and connected to said motor for controlling the operation of the latter, an actuating member operatively connected to said last mentioned switches for simultaneously actuating the latter upon predetermined movements of said actuating member, and means on said cord and engageable with said actuating member to move said actuating member through said movements.

3. A curtain opening and closing mechanism comprising driving means including a cord, a pulley operatively engaged with said cord for moving the latter, a motor operatively connected to said pulley for rotating the latter, means forv supporting said motor, said last named means including resilient means urging said motor in a direction to yieldingly urge said pulley toward said cord, and switching means connected to said motor for controlling operation of the latter.

4. A curtain opening and closing mechanism comprising driving means including an operating cord, a pulley operatively engaged with said cord for drivingthe latter, supporting means, a motor operatively connected to said pulley for supporting and rotating the latter, said motor being movably mounted on said supporting means for movement backand forth along a predetermined path to thereby move said pulley toward and-away from said cord, spring means mounted on said supporting means 8 and engaged with said motor and urging said motor in a direction to move said pulley toward said cord, and switching means connected to said motor for controllin the operation of the latter.

5. Electrical apparatus for use with curtain and drapery actuating mechanism including an' elongated-drive cord, said apparatus comprising a motor, means supporting said motor, a pulley operatively connected to said motor for rotation thereby, said pulley being adapted to be drivi-ngly engaged with said cord, and switch means operatively connected to said motor for controlling the operation of the latter, said switch means including a switch actuating member operable by said cord at the opposite limits of operation of said actuating mechanism,

said actuating member having a passageway therein for receiving such a cord therein and through which said cord may pass during operation of said actuating mechanism.

6. Electrical apparatus for use with curtain and drapery actuating mechanism including an elongated drive cord, said apparatus comprising a housing, a motor, means mounting said motor in said housing for movement back and forth along a predetermined path, said means including means yieldingly urging said motor to move in one direction along said path, a pulley mounted on said motor for rotation thereby, said pulley being adapted to drive said cord upon operation of said motor when said cord is trained over said pulley in position to resist movement of said motor in said one direction, and switching means operatively connected to said motor and operable by said cord for controlling the operation of the latter.

7. Electrical apparatus for use with curtain and drapery actuating mechanism for opening and closing curtain or draperies and including an elongated drive cord, said apparatus comprising a housing, a motor mounted in said housing, a pulley operatively connected to said motor for rotation by the latter, said pulley being movably mounted in said housing for radial movement therein, means in said housing and operatively connected to 'said pulley for urging said pulley to move in one radial direction, said pulley being operable to drive said cord upon operation of said motor when said cord is trained over said pulley in engagement with the side thereof toward which said last named means urges said pulley to move, and switching means connected to said motor for controlling the operation of the latter, said switching means comprising a reversing switch operable at the opening and closing operating limits of said actuating mechanism to reverse the electric connection to said motor, a limit switch operable at the opening and closing operating limits of said actuating mechanism to open the circuit to said motor and stop the latter, an actuating member mounted on said reversing switch and said limit switch and movable between two operable positions for simultaneously actuating said switches, and means adapted to be mounted on said cord in predetermined position thereon and engageable with said actuating member for moving the latter into a respective one of said operating positions when said actuatingmechanism reaches a respective one of its opening and closing operating limits, and a master switch, connected in series to said reversing switch, said limit switch, and said motor, for opening and closing the electrical circuit to said first two mentioned switches and said motor.

8. A curtain actuating mechanism comprising driving means including a cord disposed in the form of a loop, a housing, a closed end portion of said loop of cord extending into said housing, two mounting rods mounted in said housing and extending thereacross in substantially parallel relation to said end portion, a. motor slidingly mounted on said rods for movement longitudinally of said rods, a pulley operatively connected to said motor and supported thereby for rotation by said motor, said closedend portion being trained over said pulley in operative engagement therewith, spring means mounted on said rods and engaged with said motor in position to urge said motor to move in one direction along said rods to thereby urge said pulley into engagement with said closed end portion, and switching means connected to said motor for controlling the operation of said motor.

9. A curtain actuating mechanism comprising driving means including a cord disposed in the form of a loop, an elongated housing having two end walls and two side walls, a closed end portion of said loop of cord extending into said housing, actuating means on said cord, two substantially straight mounting rods extending between said side walls in substantially parallel relation to said end portion, a motor slidably mounted on said rods for movement longitudinally of said rods, a pulley disposed between said motor and one of said end walls of said housing, said pulley being connected to said motor and supported thereby for rotation by the latter, said closed end portion being trained over said pulley in operative engagement therewith, coil springs mounted on said rods and engaged with said motor in position to urge said motor along said rods in a direction to urge said pulley into engagement with said closed end portion, and switch ing means connected to said motor for controlling the operation of said motor, said switching means comprising a reversing switch and a limit switch mounted on said one end wall on the opposite side of said pulley from said motor, an actuating member mounted on said switches and movable through a path of travel to actuate said switches, said actuating member being disposed in position to be engaged by said actuating means on said cord for movement by said actuating means, and a master switch connected in series with said motor, said reversing switch, and said limit switch.

10. A curtain actuating mechanism comprising driving means including a cord, a housing including an end wall, elongated mounting means mounted in said housing, a motor slidably mounted on said mounting means for reciprocatory movement longitudinally of said mounting means, spring means mounted on said mounting means in position to urge said motor to move in one direction along said mounting means, a pulley mounted on said motor and supported thereby for rotation by the latter between said motor and said one end wall, two actuating members mounted on said cord in spaced relation to each other, a portion of said cord between said actuating members extending into said housing and being trained around said pulley in position to hold said motor against said urging of said spring means, and switching means connected to said motor for controlling the operation of said motor, said switching means comprising a limit switch connected to said motor for opening and closing the electrical circuit to said motor, a reversing switch connected to said motor for reversing the circuit to said motor, an actuating member mounted on said reversing switch and said limit switch and movable between two operative positions to thereby actuate said switches, said portion of said cord extending through said last mentioned actuating member in position to selectively engage said actuating members on said cord with said last mentioned actuating member to thereby move said last mentioned actuating member between said two operative positions, and a master switch connected to said motor, said limit switch, and said reversing switch, for manually controlling the opening and closing of the electrical circuit to said motor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,329,280 Lunkin et al Sept. 14, 1943 2,340,174 Chance Jan. 25, 1944 2,435,440 Graham Feb. 3, 1948 2,468,453 Mallentjer Apr. 26, 1949 2,572,785 Vaughn Oct. 23, 1951 

